Understanding the Millennial Mindset

The Packer’s Midwest Produce Expo is back in Kansas City, Mo., Aug. 14-16 for its sixth annual edition, and this year the show focuses on a huge generation of consumers who are changing food retailing: millennials.

“Millennial Mindset is our theme this year to get the produce industry better information about reaching this important group of consumers,” said The Packer Publisher Shannon Shuman

The Packer Editor Greg Johnson and Produce Retailer Editor Pamela Riemenschneider will present a millennial version of their Fresh Trends Quiz Show, which uses Fresh Trends 2017 data to show attendees how to better market to millennials, and it uses real-time audience answers in the presentation.

“Pamela and I have some surprises for our attendees,” Johnson said. “For instance, younger consumers tend to buy fruits and vegetables less often than other age groups according to our Fresh Trends survey, but they’re even with or above the other groups on tropical fruits. We’ll explain why and what retailers can do with that information.”

Keynote speaker Matt Beaudreau has given keynote presentations to many corporate groups, and he uses proprietary data on millennials to show how to better market to and employ them.

The Millennial Mindset education program starts with a presentation on e-commerce and grocery delivery by Erick Taylor, president and CEO of Pyramid Foods, a Rogersville, Mo., retail chain, which operates 52 stores under several banners in Missouri, Oklahoma and Kansas.

Then, Garland Perkins, U.S. retail solutions with The Oppenheimer Group, Vancouver, British Columbia, will analyze millennials using her personal experience and professional experiences.

The 5-hour expo is Aug. 15 at the headquarter hotel, the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center.